Manawatu Road Board.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 102, 2 April 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Road Board.

YESTERDAY. [Continuation of Report.] Mr Stewart, Government Engineer, having written to the Board relative to transfer of gravel pit at Terrace End, Mr Akers said the reserve being sold, Fitzherbert Ward would have as much interest m the proceeds as any other Ward. Mr Pratt informed Warden Akers he would find he was incorrect, and that a proportion had already been paid to the credit of the Fitzherbert Ward. The Chairioau also endorsed Mr Pratt's remark. ... Re the willows m the Kawaa stream, | Warden Edwards stated that the nuis- | ance was as bad as ever, and the trees growing up all round. Ho would not sanction payment for what had beeu done until the work was properly carried out. Mr H. H. Russel, of Te Matai, wrote drawing the Board's attention to the state of the road to the Te Matai property, and requesting that some consideration be shown them m the mutter. The applicant further statedjthat an annual rate on the proporty was paid amounting to £40, and that during some 3 years of residence the owners had contributed m rates £160. Mr T. W. Stace, wrote referring to same road,and aqking that a former offer of his be at once accepted. BBPORT. The following engineer's report wai read :— ; ' : Palmerston N. r Ist April, 1885. To the. Chairman, Manawatu Road Board. , . Sir, — In consequence of the unsatisfactory manner m which contracts 1 and 2 on the Longburn-Kairanga Uoad have been carried out. I would- request your Board to .approve of my patting ia force condition No. 6 of the -printed conditions of contract. "6. Should the contractor not proceed with sufficient expedition the engineer shall have power to take the work, or any part thereof, out of the hands of the contractor and complete it at the cost of the contractor." I have the honour to be, ; „ Sir, Your obedient servant, E. J. Armstrong, : Engineer to the Board. Mr Armstrong pointed out that persistent attempts to avoid! the. conditions of their contracts had been made by Messrß Williams and Folley and Ross and Co., and he would ask the Board to take the contracts over ' and complete them at the cost of the contractors. The penalty for this had already been iucurred and the overseer, Mr Gladstone, has been unable to~ make any headway with them. In. reply to Mr Sly the engineer said the Foxton Road contract should, have bee completed m March. ■■■■.. Mr Sly stated that tor the letting of these contracts a special meeting of the Board had been held, they were heavy metalling jobs and as winter was now approaching unless they were at once proceeded with it would be impossible to get the work completed this season. He would move that the engineer's suggestions be carried into- effect regarding those two contracts. Mr Akers wished to know if there was any question of legality involved m taking these contracts m hand. The engineer stated the contractors had been repeatedly warned both verbally and m writing. Mr Sly remarked it would be necessary that the works be done for the {sake of the ratepayers before the winter. « Mr Matthieson did not like doing anything harsh with the contractors bub they had evidently only themselves to blame, he would second the motion. The Slaughter House report was read 1 and received. DEPUTATIONS. *Mr Christiansen waited on the Board m reference to the condition of the road leading to his property. ~Mr Akers said this applicant's case would be ment by special ■money" coining from deferred payments. Mrßocknick attended re damage to his property, Stoney Creek, through overflow of culvert from Captain Mowlem'sland, on the opposite side, of the road. The applicant was informed that the engineer would examine the nuisance and that Capt. Mowlem would haye to be conferred with before anything could be done m the matter. Mr McEwan attended re repair of bridge on his property at Karere and addressed the Board at considerable length - pointing out the importance of having his application attended, and finally offered to undertake the execution of the work if the Board would find the necessary timber, stringers, &o. t he would find the spikes and the cost to be deducted from his rates. Mr Stubbs, jun., waited on the Board requesting that the road be metalled leading from the Rangitikei Road to boundary of Kairanga; the first 60 chains of the road were exceedingly bad and the settlers experienced m winter time no small inconvenience through its almost im passable state. They had had no return for their rates, and the Board was receiving money through the deferred payments which were made half-yearly, the settlers, not having yet capitalized. Mr Stubbs was informed that as soon as possible the Board would consider the application and have the road metalled. Mr'Standen waited on the Board re a summons for rates he had received. He stated that the land rated was leased by him from Natives, and he used it for grazing purposes. It was valued at £1000 :>nd rated at 2s 6d. Mr Sly thought the valuer whoever he was, did not know much about his,business to assess the land at such a figure. He would propose that the extra rate remain uncollected thisieason and that an adjustment be made next ' year, Mr Stariden to pay costs of court incurred. Seconded by. Mr Akers and carried. Mr Sanson and other settlers attended re Middle Aorangi Road, requesting that instead of completing the metalling of the 74 chains as arranged, a portion be diverted to placing a culvert and carry, ing out necessary drainage. - The Board informed the deputation that it was not m their power to divert the money this way, but that the thickness of metalling might be reduced and the balance m excess spent as suggested. Mr Sanson also .appeared on behalf of Patrick Desmond who had received a summons for rates. He explained that the defaulter was a helpless invalid and utterly unable to meet the demand. He had been m the hospital for some time and since his discharge had been completely helpless. He. had 50 acres of land but m his wife's name who is a halfcaste. : : Mr Snelson knew the condition of the j man referred to and thought the case ! one to receive their consideration. "He | would move that the rate and costs be remitted. . . Mr Sly objected to the costs being allowed as a similar case had just been dealt with and such a procedure would i not be doing justice to the ratepayers. Mr Sanson having offered to pay the costs of court if the rate was remitted, the Board resolved on the motion of Mr Sly seconded by Mr Mathieson that the rate for the present year remain uncollected. Mr Thomas Knight attended request, ing settlement of his claim for bushfalling amounting, to £18. The applicant explained it was three years since the first portion of the work was done ao4

two years since its completion. He had repeatedly sent m Jpw account for payment. Mr Akers was informed by the clerk that the item appeared on the list of road line liabilities taken over from the former chairman. "It was resolved to have the account certified to by Mr Skerman and pay it as soon as m funds. Mr Mitchell waited on the Board requesting to have drain fronting his property Rangikkei Line cleared. It was resolved to attend to the matter, the sum of £4 to be expended, Mr Mitchell finding one third. TENDERS. Tenders for the Tiritea bridges work were as follows : — JvMcColl, £94 10s, (accepted) ; J, H. , Aiiderspn, £97 ; 0. Rosenthal, £98 10s; | A. Nathan, £134. m The tenders for the Kairanga metalling and clearing drain were all considerably over the amount to be expended. They were as follows :— A. Nathan, £91 17s, £98 18s, £293 4s; C. Rosenthal, £105 15s, £115 ss; J.; H. Anderson, £79 10s, £150. . ' Resolved on the motion of Mr Mathieson to accept A. Nathan's tender of £91 17s 6(1 for drain work, and the balance not to exceed £40 to be expended on road formation. . MISCELLANEOUS. Resolved 'that a general rate ot Jd m the £ being struck for the ensuing year from April Ist 1885 to 31st March 1886, such rate to be payable on April 15th, 1885, m one instalment at the Board's office. ; - In the case of the Board v. Collins for rates, due it was decided to allow the. 'i&ii to %Q r on and should an adverse de-, • cision be given Mr Hob to give notice of appeal. ': •Proposed by Mr Snelson seconded by Mr Edwards arid carried — That all members be paid 10s 6d per day when 'flut on any special 'business of the Board, such payment to date from special meeting of-20th March 1885. Proposed that the Secretary write to Mr jßotheratn for tho sum of £20 for , clearing' out flood gate, drains the Board feidmg Hhat ' the pontract cost far more ■than the sum originally granted, and ask if he could supplement it by £10. Resolved — That the ran s er. be instructed not to impound the contractor's horses on the Longburn Road, Waldegrave?s; Line, during the progress of his ' contract. Proposed by Mr Edwards and seconded by Mr Akers and carried — That the sum of £20 be advanced tor Kirkpatrick'a Lino. ; Resolved — That Mr Akers bo empowered to expend the sum of £20 on MUlerick's Line.